Marwan I made his sons governors over all the provinces. He appointed his eldest son, who later became his successor Abd al-Malik as governor of Damascus, governor of Egypt was another one of his sons Abd al-Aziz.

And when Abd al-Aziz became governor of Egypt, Pope John III wrote from Alexandria to Misr to the two scribes who presided over his divan, to make known to them what had been done concerning the seal, which was set upon all the places, and the trouble with the misbelieving Chalcedonians from which he was suffering. Thereupon the said scribes sent messengers to Alexandria with instructions that the seal should be broken in the places named, and that all the property of the Church should be delivered to the Father Patriarch.